Table of contents for 17-May-2018 in Pick Me Up!

Where to start! My mum is one of the strongest women that you’ll ever meet. Whenever you need her, she drops everything to be at your side. Throughout my life, Mum, 77, has always stayed strong, putting on a brave face in the toughest of times. She has lost two daughters - my sister Karen, aged 7 in 1967, then Tracey, who was 40 when she died of leukaemia in 2002. I lost two sisters, but my mum lost her beloved children. Our relationship has always been very strong. She’s my best friend. I even moved to the same street just so that I could be closer to her. Right now, she’s caring for my dad David, 80, as he struggles not only with inflammatory arthritis but is also fighting…

Acne treatment Q I’ve always had bad acne on my face and back, but resisted antibiotic treatment as I was worried about taking them for a long time. However, it seems to be getting worse. Is there an alternative? Hayley, Buckinghamshire A A combination, topical, non-antibiotic treatment is now considered better than long-term oral antibiotic use, so see your GP to discuss that instead. Fertility before periods Q My boyfriend and I want to start having sex (we’re virgins), but I’m late starting my periods (I’m just 16)... Does that mean I’m safe until after my first period? Alison, Kent A No! You are at risk of pregnancy before menarche (your first period) and throughout the month, even if your periods are irregular. Always use contraception or you could get pregnant.…

Aqua Carpatica, 65p, Ocado If you thought water was just water, think again! Designed for the health conscious, this water has the lowest sodium level of any bottled mineral water and is said to be the silkiest H20 on Earth! Verdict: UNDECIDED! Sounds bonkers but good for health-food lovers and pregnant women. Aerobull Speaker in Gloss Red, £1,349.99, firebox.com Fancier than your average speaker, this French bulldog-shaped gadget boasts wireless music streaming, a bone-shaped remote and seriously powerful speakers. Verdict: BONKERS! We can’t believe the price! Kippy Vita, from £55, Vodafone Keep an eye on pets, even when they’re out of sight, with this GPS tracker that fits on their collar. Using a SIM, it tracks how long they’ve spent sleeping and playing, as well as giving you…

Dad, in my favourite memory of you, you’re doing your Mick Jagger strut across the stage at a Haven holiday park in Devon. I can still feel my cheeks flush as you stuck out your lips and started belting out (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction. But when you’d started rocking out on your air guitar, I’d convulsed with laughter. You may have been embarrassing, Dad, but I secretly wanted to join in. I was only young then, maybe 12 or 13. But unlike others my age, I loved spending time with my funny old pops. Even if you did make me cringe at times. We had so much fun. Not just on holiday... We’d play by the canal, take a picnic down there. Or - and I’m probably embarrassing you,…

Everyone at work thought I’d buy another dog It was November 2017 and the house was chaos. Being a mum of two kids, Charlotte, 13, and Harry, 10, was madness. And I had just as many dogs. So I use any me-time I get to chill out and relax. One of the things I like to do is play Pick Me Up! Bingo. I’d been a member for over three years and had some small wins. A win in November 2016 playing 90-ball Bingo in the Emerald Bingo room went to buy my West Highland terrier pup, Charlie. This time, I’d bought 38 10p tickets for the Link game in the Emerald room. Yawning, I left the game running and headed up to bed. The next morning, I checked what…

Reporting rape is imperative, because it should result in fewer of those vile humans loose on our streets. People need to feel they can speak up and not feel ashamed for something that’s out of their control. Ashli Ross-Richardson, 29, Lincoln Many people are ashamed of the fact they were raped and they tend to want to forget about what happened to them, which is understandable. Especially when people report an incident but, sadly, are not believed. Sheena Wathall, 32, Grimsby Town The first stage of securing a conviction is speaking out. And it helps people move forward. The #MeToo campaign has undoubtedly helped many, and at least allowed some to speak about what happened to them, even if it doesn’t give justice to everyone. Kimberley Hemmings, 27, Newcastle-under-Lyme…

We had fans everywhere from the UK to Germany to Japan ‘We’re pregnant!’ grinned my wife Carli, 33. It was January 2016, and the best news I’d ever heard. ‘Amazing!’ I exclaimed. We’d been married for two years and couldn’t wait to start our family. Then, when little Zoe was born that September, I was in awe of how tiny and beautiful she was. I loved being a dad, and was so proud, I wanted to scream from the rooftops. On her first day of life, I must’ve taken a thousand photos! I could have some fun with this, I thought, flicking through them. Getting creative is a real passion for me. Growing up, I’d drawn lots of cartoons, and I loved taking quirky snaps. Everyone posts loads of photos…

Since the moment I was born, I was Nana’s little angel. ‘She’d steal you if she could!’ Mum would joke. But she and Dad didn’t mind really. I’d spend most weekends being spoilt rotten at Nana’s and it gave them a break. Nana would catch a bus from across London on a Friday and drop me off on Sunday night. She loved baking, bought me dolls, took me to the zoo and on holidays. Such a caring woman, it was no surprise when she agreed to take Eddie in. Eddie was Dad’s half-brother, Grandad’s son from another relationship. By 1980, Eddie was 15 and had landed on hard times. I was 4 at the time and painfully shy, but Eddie seemed nice. ‘I’m your uncle,’ he winked, as I sat…

Trigeminal neuralgia 1 Trigeminalneuralgia is a slow-building pain in the neck. 2 The attacks usually last for an hour. 3 Attackscan be experienced regularly for a longerperiod of time. 4 It is caused by compression on the trigeminal nerve. 1 FALSE It’s a sudden, severe pain (often describedas a shooting or stabbing pain) in the head, face, jaw, teeth or gums. 2 FALSE Generally, attacks are quick and unpredictable, often lasting a minute or so. 3 TRUE People with this condition may experience attacks for days, weeks or months at a time. 4 TRUE This is the nerve inside the skull that transmitssensations of pain and touch from your face, teeth and mouth to your brain.…

Finding my glasses at last, I read the huge sum on the screen Alexandra Greatbatch, 48, Stoke-on-Trent It was the weekend, and it was lovely for my hubby Peter, 50, and me to have some time to ourselves. I smiled at him, busy on his tablet. ‘Morning, love,’ he beamed back, kissing me fondly on the cheek. It was a Sunday morning last November, and we had decided to play a few games of bingo. We’d both been members of Pick Me Up! Bingo for two months. ‘Have you started playing the Bingo yet?’ I asked him, looking around for my glasses. He was in the Emerald Bingo room, which we usually play together. We love to have a bit of friendly banter with each other! I couldn’t find my…

Velvotan The Original Tanning Mitt in Tropical, £2.99, Asda Avoid stained hands by always applying your tan with a mitt. This one has a lotion-resistant barrier to stop the product seeping through and is machine washable, so you can reuse it as many times as you like. St Moriz Tan Boosting Facial Serum, £9.99, Superdrug Designed to be used on your face, mix three to six drops of this serum with your normal moisturiser for a sun-kissed glow without compromising on your other skincare. Bellamianta Liquid Gold Self Tanning Tinted Liquid, £12, bellamianta.com New Irish brand Bellamianta has worked hard to make luxe products at a reasonable price. This liquid develops over two to four hours and won’t stain your clothes or your sheets if you leave it…

Hand care Palmolive Liquid Handwash + Lotion is just £1 at Asda (save 99p) until 13 June. Available in-store and online at asda.com Full flavour Coconut milk is a versatile ingredient that gives richness and flavour to so many dishes – try using it in a home-made Thai curry. And now Asda’s Reduced Fat Coconut Milk has been rolled back to 89p (usually £1). Snack attack! Arden’s Gruyere & Spinach Twists are the perfect party snack. They’re made from flaky, buttery pastry, combined with smooth and mellow Gruyere cheese and spinach, before being baked to perfection. They’re now £1.27 (usually £1.69) at Waitrose until 15 May. Taste of summer Lambrini Skinny is a light and bubbly alternative to prosecco that has only 29 calories per glass! You can…

BRAZIL: HELL ON HIGH HEELS Following a botched, armed prison escape attempt, Brazilian drug trafficker Ronaldo Silva was transferred to a new prison in Penedo. But serving time was clearly a drag for this convict. In early 2012, he made another, more bizarre, bid for freedom. During a prison visit, 39-year-old Silva managed to swap clothes with his wife. Mrs Silva left the jail wearing her husband’s T-shirt and shorts - and later told the police that she had no idea why hubby Ronaldo had demanded the trade. As it turned out, Silva had been nursing a new escape plan for some time. He’d shaved his arms and legs, and acquired a long, black wig. Now, donning his wife’s blue dress, white bra, lipstick and heels, Silva was ready to…

As I walked into the tattoo parlour with my sister Hayley, 21, the buzz of the needles excited me. It was July 1992 and Hayley wanted a rosebud inked on her hip. Aged 31, her older sister, I’d gone along for moral support. But as she chatted to the tattoo artist, I admired a butterfly design on the wall. ‘What would you think if I got a tattoo on my hip as well?’ I asked Hayley, feeling spontaneous. ‘Really?’ she asked. Grinning, I jumped into the chair. ‘I’m the oldest, so I’ll go first,’ I winked. As the tattooist inked my right hip, it felt very painful and bled a bit. Once it was finished, I saw him change the needle before starting Hayley’s design. Admiring my tat in the…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Are you making more of an issue because you want to fall out with a close one, or because you really believe their words and actions have been unacceptable? It’s only by answering this question honestly that you’ll work out what your next – and fair – move should be. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May It’s really important that you think about your career and where you see yours headed. You’ll mix with some powerful people from Tuesday, and they can help you take things to a whole new level. Stick to arrangements this weekend – you’ll be pleased you did! Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Just believe that you can…and you’re halfway there, Gemini! For too long, you’ve been…